MARK SMITH

LINCOLN RAPIST SENTENCED TO LIFE AFTER DNA EVIDENCE LINKS HIM TO ATTACK

A 27-year-old man from St Giles, Lincoln, named Mark Smith, has been sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of raping an 18-year-old woman.

The assault occurred in the early hours of July 21 last year, while the woman was walking home after a night out.

Smith was identified as the culprit through DNA evidence, which also facilitated his guilty plea at Lincoln Crown Court.

It was disclosed that Smith, who had previously been convicted of two other sexual assaults, approached the victim by Wragby Road, then forcibly pushed her down and assaulted her.

As part of his sentence, he is also required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.

The victim, who was in a nightclub in the city center when she started feeling unwell, was followed by Smith onto Lindum Hill.

He then started talking to her and eventually led her into a passageway where he carried out the attack.

The case emphasizes the gravity of sexual violence crimes and highlights concerns about the dangers posed by offenders with prior convictions for similar offenses.